The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-12-01
ODD DINNER DAINTIES.
QUEER DISHES FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXTRAORDINARILY INCLINED.

A Delicious Roast of Wild Cat-The Ex-
oeIIencc of Observation-Disclosures Paste and
Picked neutrality-suspicious. on Toast.
A Florida Dainty.
It has often been said that the man who
first ate raw oyster must have been not
only brave but hungry and although there
are few of us who have been equally brave IN
tasting new dishes, we think it safe to say that
there are many more who would have to be
very hungry before eating broilod rattlesnake
or baked buzzard, and yet those who have
eaten broiled snake declare it to be, when
properly cooked, excellent eating.
A few winters ago, in Florida, was in
vited TO a feast in the wilderness, and ate
heartily of delicious roast of meat; on ask
ing for a second plate inquired what it was,
and was told that it was roast wild cat.
Not for the whole state Of Florida could
have eaten another mouthful, and yet my
vis-a-vis exclaimed, 'Wild catl-it is de
licious!' How could he. l thought OF
course l was glad afterward that had tasted
wild cat, but l could not have felt any more
uncomfortable for while if they Lad told
me that had eaten part of the alligator
had seen brought in from the swamp that
morning, or pie made of the beautiful little
chameleons that were to be found every
where; and in fact | am not quite sure hut
that some of the tough black steaks that we
had at the st. Augustine and Jacksonville
hotels were not alligator steaks. However,
every one to his taste: the Chinaman will
tell you that mice are very good eating"
tho Frenchman that horse flesh sis excel
ient,' the negro that 'possum and coon IAN
Delicious" the cannibal that nothing equals
the flesh of his enemy, and so on.
PREPARING FROGS LEGS.
Although frog spearing became a fashion
able sport across the water last summer, and
was practiced both by men and women, we
hardly think that even hazel wood eros
bows and silken cords will induce American
girls to follow their French cousins in this
rather questionable amusement, still, as
there are recipes to be found for the serving Ct
frogs legs in some Of the rev cook books, il
proves that it is not an unknown dish nor an
unliked one, and for the benefit Of those who
affect something odd for the table the follow
ing suggestions for dishes and dinners are
offered
There are several ways Of preparing frogs
legs, the simplest being salad; fried, with
sauce tartare; patties of frogs legs; and q
plain fry. For the last, which is the sim
plest of all, skin, and boil for five minutes
in sailed water, then throw into cold water
and drain roll in cracker crumbs, and fry
in hot fat.
Those who visit Florida in the winter can
indulge in palmetto cabbage, which is the
tender bud of the tree and prepared just as
you would boil cabbage, not forgetting to
change the water at least twice 1t also
makes an excellent pickle.
We have heard it stated by those who have
lied it that watermelon is vastly improved
y pouring claret or champagne over it,
Dome time since The London Standard pub
Fshed two recipes which we think will serve
as extreme examples in taste. They were for
beetle paste and picked grasshoppers; the
latter is a New Zealand dish, but is none the
less recommended The beetles which are
used are tho common black ones. They
should be soaked in vinegar for six hours
then dried in the sun for two hours; the
outer shell can then be easily removed, leav
ing the flesh, which resembles shrimp
Now mix with -four butter, pepper and salt
into thick paste, and set in a cool oven for
two hours. When cold serve with bread and
butter The grasshoppers should be stepped
in salt or pork brine for two hours, then
boiled in the brine for twenty minutes, then
rinsed in lrkewarm water, and remove the
heads legs and wings Gf any are left. They
are now ready for the table, and should be
eaten with crackers
CHINESE DISH.
Chinese student tells us that locusts on
toast is as fashionable dish in northern
China as quail on toast is in America, and we
see no reason to doubt his assertion that they
are delicious eating. To nrenare them the